opinion highlights

A look into student opinions and the opinion section

THIS WEEK

IN TWEETS

THE FIRST DEATH FROM HURRICANE IDA HAS BEEN REPORTED IN LOUISIANA, IN ASCENSION PARISH, THE SHERIFF SAYS CNN 8/29/21

THE 13 SERVICE MEMBERS THAT WE LOST WERE HEROES WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVICE OF OUR HIGHEST AMERICAN IDEALS AND WHILE SAVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS. OUR SACRED OBLIGATION TO THE FAMILIES OF THESE HEROES WILL LAST FOREVER. POTUS 8/29/21

PARAMOUNT PICTURES ON

WEDNESDAY SCRAPPED A PLAN TO RELEASE “TOP GUN: MAVERICK” IN THEATERS IN NOVEMBER, CITING UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS OF MOVIEGOERS TO BRAVE THE DELTA VARIANT, PARTICULARLY OVERSEAS. THE NY TIMES 8/29/21

STUDENT TAKES

HAVE PEOPLE EVER MADE WEIRD/ INAPPROPRIATE REMARKS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF COFFEE YOU DRINK?

*Instagram poll of 235 votes

YES NO 32.77% 67.23%

DO YOU FEEL OTHERS HAVE PROJECTED FEAR ONTO YOU ABOUT THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM?

*IB groupchat poll of 14 votes

YES NO 71.43% 28.57%

DO YOU THINK PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES SHOULD TAKE PART IN POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS?

*Instagram poll of 252 votes

YES NO 60.71% 39.29% MY COFFEE DOESN’T CONCERN YOU

Drinking coffee shouldn’t be a reason to look into someone’s personal habits

by sophie lindberg

ABOUT A WEEK ago, I was walking into my math class with my coffee mug in hand. This is nothing out of the ordinary — my Folgers half-caff is practically glued to me every morning, thanks to my mother’s fine coffee craftsmanship.

To the girl sitting next to me, I said, “I’m so tired, coffee doesn’t even work on me anymore at this point.” She then asked if I was self-medicating ADHD with caffeine.

Let me make this abundantly clear: I am not self-medicating anything. Still, this wasn’t my first time being asked that question, and it still bothers me every time. Since when does drinking a cup of coffee every day imply mental disorders? I may just be out of the loop, but people shouldn’t think it’s okay to ask me these questions.

I can’t be the only person that thinks this is the wrong question to ask. I don’t have to spill my guts to the first person that asks if I’m doing okay, so I’m not going to tell them whether I have ADHD or if I’m trying to fix my anxiety by drinking caffeine.

I find it funny that her response to my “I’m tired” moment wasn’t “Why are you tired, Sophie?” It would’ve been so nice to hear, and we could’ve had a relatively normal conversation with small talk that at least would’ve sounded like she genuinely cared about my well-being, instead of just trying to shame me for an issue I don’t even have.

So, next time you see someone with a mug of coffee at school, don’t ask yourself what’s wrong with them. Just don’t think about it. It’s just a cup of coffee. It’s not my livelihood.

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